I read in the "1717 Uncut" CD thread that a couple of thousand hours were invested in this design.

I thinks you're asking for a lot!!

Here's the specific quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

In regards to releasing the CAD, their mentors told me the Swerve drive alone took 5 students and 5 mentors over 2000 hours to create.

I'm confused how ten people could even spend 2000 hours working on a model during the build season and still have time to actually fabricate it, let alone design the rest of the robot. I mean, with school, homework, sleep, and my team's build space not being open, I wasn't even able to put in 200 hours over the course of the entire build season, and that includes time spent CADding at home.

At any rate, the quality of their end product and the dedication of all involved speaks volumes about the quality of the program DPE/Team 1717 has formed. I am inspired by their work (I've read The New Cool twice) and certainly look forward to seeing their future robots. Hopefully, they will continue to showcase them as well as they have done this year.

I'm confused how ten people could even spend 2000 hours working on a model during the build season and still have time to actually fabricate it, let alone design the rest of the robot. I mean, with school, homework, sleep, and my team's build space not being open, I wasn't even able to put in 200 hours over the course of the entire build season, and that includes time spent CADding at home.

At any rate, the quality of their end product and the dedication of all involved speaks volumes about the quality of the program DPE/Team 1717 has formed. I am inspired by their work (I've read The New Cool twice) and certainly look forward to seeing their future robots. Hopefully, they will continue to showcase them as well as they have done this year.

I think the "2000 hours" is collectively over the course of the 4 year time period in which they started using swerve. It could be in one build season, but like you said it would be tough.

I think the "2000 hours" is collectively over the course of the 4 year time period in which they started using swerve. It could be in one build season, but like you said it would be tough.

The context of the conversation with the mentor was the work required over one season including the pre-season. The point he made to me was to get as much work done during the pre-season our else one will never get the swerve drive done.

I suspect there were 3000 work-hours invested in the 1717 wheel module design. With 5 students and 5 mentors working together, we're talking about 300 hours of actual clock-time.

It's possible the preliminary design was created in 8-10 weeks during the fall. Some prototyping could be done while the final design (part-level detailed drawings) was developed in first few of weeks of build season. Wheel modules could then be fabricated and assembled for the competition robot in time to complete controls software and test drive the robot before the "stop work" date.

Team 1717 is very well-organized and disciplined to manage such a development in this time frame. Keep in mind their all-senior robotics team walks into each FRC season with CAD, fabrication and programming skills. They're able to hit the ground running every season. They'll be a force to be reckoned with in FRC for some time to come.

P.S. The new Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy facility is ready and Amir has posted a job opening with applicant qualifications you might expect for a leading R&D lab.

It looks awesome, but I imagine that module is heavy. Well, I guess I'd be best to ask just how heavy is one of those things?

I got to handle one at the FRC Championships this year at their pits. and No it isn't very heavy. For a swerve drive it is pretty lightweight. I would guess between 6-8 lbs including motors and everything.